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Outcry Grows Over LAPD Mock-Valentine
LAPD Headquarters in front of City Hall. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
Over the weekend, reports emerged that Los Angeles Police Department officers had shared a Valentine’s Day-themed photo of George Floyd that included a caption reading, “You Take My Breath Away.”
Today, a coalition of community activists called for the firing of any LAPD employee who created or shared the image.
Floyd died last May after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. He told officers several times that he couldn’t breathe.
The LAPD opened an investigation into the matter after a department member reported the photo. On Twitter, the department said it “will have zero tolerance for this type of behavior.”
At a press conference outside the Harbor Community Police Station in San Pedro Monday, activist Najee Ali shared a statement from attorney Ben Crump on behalf of the Floyd family:
“We demand that everyone, everyone who was involved is held accountable for their revolting behavior and an apology be issued to the family immediately.“
Ali said he had been in contact with LAPD Chief Michel Moore and commended him for committing to a thorough investigation.
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On Twitter, L.A. District Attorney George Gascon expressed his disgust. “The callous nature of what's alleged here is exceedingly disturbing, and it speaks volumes to law enforcement's inability to recognize how harmful the use of unlawful force is to public attitudes about police,” Gascon wrote.
Celebrating the murder of a Black man at the hands of police demonstrates a profound absence of humanity.
— George Gascón (@GeorgeGascon) February 15, 2021
The mock valentine underscores problematic & racist perceptions of law enforcement culture regarding the communities we are sworn to protect & serve.https://t.co/w52m2mEK9U
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